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"side-splittingly funny" 
- OperaVision

COMEDY

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Arriving at a peculiar resort-sanatorium, a woman's plans for weight loss in a weekend to save her marriage are hilariously derailed, when her husband unexpectedly checks in.  Lured by a Healer with a reputation for a quick fix, an array of unique and entertaining characters struggling with the complexities of modern life soon realise their healing is not as straightforward as they thought.

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Poking fun at the wellness industry and our contemporary obsessions with perfection, flaws and fads, Sanatorium Express takes us on a surprisingly sentimental and uplifting journey.

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About the music:

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Iiro Rantala's music is characterised by its genre-defying versatility and playful approach. His style seamlessly blends jazz and classical influences, showcasing virtuosic piano skills and a knack for memorable melodies. Rantala's compositions often feature unexpected twists, incorporating elements of humor and improvisation.

 

His work spans from intimate solo piano pieces to full orchestral arrangements, always maintaining a sense of accessibility and emotional depth. Rantala's unique voice in music is marked by technical brilliance, compositional ingenuity, and an ability to move effortlessly between styles, creating a sound that is both sophisticated and entertaining.

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About the words:

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Minna Lindgren is a Finnish author and journalist known for her witty and insightful writing. Her literary style blends humour with social commentary, particularly evident in her popular "Twilight Grove" (Lavender Ladies Detective Agency)  trilogy.

 

Lindgren's work often explores themes of aging, modern society, and culture with a satirical edge. Her background in classical music journalism informs her writing, including her opera librettos. Lindgren's prose is characterised by its accessibility, warmth, and ability to tackle serious issues through comedy.

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When

Sat 22 Feb  8pm

Thu 27 Feb  8pm

Where

Panarcadian Festival Theatre

570 Victoria Street

North Melbourne

TBA...(MELB)

Duration

2 hours + 20min interval

Tickets

Pre-sale:

October 7

General Bookings:

October 14

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Premium: $139

General Admission: $119

Concession: $89

Composer

Iiro Rantala

Director

Petra Kalive

Librettist

Minna Lindgren

Music Director

TBA

Other performances

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p r i s m

Doting mother Lumee and her daughter Bibi live isolated, in a pristine​ sanctuary. Bibi and Lumee are trying to protect each other from the danger that lurks outside their door.

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Winner of a Pulitzer Prize in 2019, and written just before #metoo, p r i s m explores the elasticity of memory after the trauma of a sexual assault, and the extent to which we will go to try to make it all better.

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Soldier Songs

Soldier Songs - 'an opera in the form of a song cycle' - depicts that solitude of a soldier’s experience:  one isolated baritone stands alone in this piece and reflects a single vulnerability that speaks for generations.

 

 

But more powerfully, Soldier Songs deals with the crisis of communicable experience:  the soldiers who return from war unable to bear witness to their chaotic memories.​​

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